ERA was engaged by Burbury Consulting to conduct stakeholder engagement for the replacement of the single lane, load limited, two span open steel truss bridge with a new, dual lane, unrestricted bridge to cross the Mountain River on Lollara Main Road in the Huon Valley. The original bridge was over 100 years old and had been assessed as needing replacement in order to cater to modern heavy vehicle use and contemporary safety standards. The adjacent Longleys Road leading onto the bridge was to be permanently closed as part of the project.

Community and stakeholder engagement revealed that permanent closure of Longleys Road would be a significant detriment to local orchards who used the road, especially around harvest time, and would cause an increase in agricultural traffic (tractors, trailers and harvesting equipment) on the Huon Highway. Engagement with the local community also suggested that new road turning treatments would be required for Lucaston Road as a result of the new driving conditions, specifically the introduction of a dual lane bridge.

The engagement resulted in a revision to the original design plans for the project including an engineered solution that enabled Longleys Road to remain open, and road treatment that enables safer traffic passage over the bridge and surrounding areas. The new bridge was completed and opened to traffic in September 2023.